The first of the former Stirling District Asylum case books, which were cleaned and catalogued by a project team in the University of Stirling archives store, highlights a fascinating list of former professions. The asylum’s patient registers record details of the admission and discharge of those treated in the hospital which was located on the current Bellsdyke Hospital site.
The registers provide an insight into lives of the patients recording their age, marital status, previous occupation and where they lived. Medical details such as bodily condition, form of mental disorder and ‘supposed cause of insanity’ are also recorded. Alongside the standard medical reasons given some of the more unusual ‘supposed causes’ noted in the hospital’s first register, beginning in 1869, include ‘loneliness and religious contemplation’, ‘excessive use of ardent spirits’, ‘disappointment in love’ and ‘severe blow on temple from a golf ball.’ Another reason given is ‘sunstroke’ – this however, was for a former soldier who suffered it while stationed in India.
Occupations listed include labourer, shoemaker, housemaid and cooper highlighting many of the common jobs at the time in most villages and towns across the country.
The registers also note if patients were previously admitted to the hospital and/or transferred to other institutions, which provides valuable information when trying to trace the movement of patients through the network of former Scottish asylums.
